ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT BARDOLINO DEVELOPMENT

Bardolino Development Environmental Statement
PROJECT SUMMARY
Several options for developing the Bardolino field have been assessed in order to determine the
most favourable option, taking into account the economic, technical, commercial, safety and
environmental challenges of the project. The development that is now proposed comprises the
drilling of a single development well tied back via a new manifold and 2 km long 6” production
pipeline, with piggy-backed 3” gas lift line, to the Howe sub-sea manifold, which itself is tied-back
to the Nelson platform. A separate electro-hydraulic and chemical control umbilical will also be
installed between Bardolino and Howe.
The assessment includes the effects, on all relevant components of the offshore environment, of
planned activities associated with the proposed Bardolino development. Project activities include:
• Well Engineering Activities: The drilling of a single development well and connection to
a new production manifold.
• Installation and Commissioning: Installation and commissioning of a 2 km, 6"
production pipeline to the Howe subsea infrastructure with 3" gas lift pipeline and electrohydraulic
and chemical control umbilical. Installation and commissioning of a new
manifold at Bardolino and new valve skid at Howe.
• Production, Utility and Maintenance Operations: Operation of the Bardolino facilities,
including the handling of produced fluids at Nelson and the use and possible discharge of
chemicals.
• Decommissioning: This will not be addressed in this ES – a separate environmental
assessment will be undertaken at the appropriate time (see Section 3.8).
Project activities are scheduled to commence in Q1/Q2 2009 with production estimated to begin
in August 2009.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Shell has a formal documented Corporate Management System (CMS) that is designed to
implement the Company’s Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) policy. Shell UK’s
Environmental Management System (EMS) is embedded in the CMS and the EMS is certified to
the International Standards Organisation (ISO) Standard 14001 for Environmental Management
Systems (EMS). The CMS requires a commitment to compliance with legislation and continual
improvement in environmental performance, and applies to all elements of the Bardolino
development.
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES
The proposed development is located in an area that is typical of the offshore regions in the
central North Sea, where hydrographical, meteorological, geological and biological characteristics
are relatively uniform over large areas. Users of the area are mainly those associated with oil
and gas exploration and development, shipping and fishing. Table i provides a summary of the
key features of the offshore environment in this area, and their seasonal patterns of activity or
sensitivity.
April 2008 Page ii